Community Newsletter of the Maimonides Hebrew Day School of the Capital District
404 Partridge Street Albany NY 12208 (518) 453-9363/3434 www.maimonidesschool.org

produced by Rabbi Mendel & students in the TNT (Torah ‘n Technology) Program
Maimonides is accredited by the NYS Board of Regents & is a beneficiary of UJF-NENY

maimonidesschool@gmail.com

Candle-Lighting:

4:04
Shabbos Ends:

5:08

This newsletter is sponsored
in loving memory of

Sol Lieberman
- Zisa Ben Tzion who passed away this week
on the 18th of Kislev
father of Shmuly Lieberman
and father-in-law of Michelle
(Chandler) Lieberman, both
Maimonides alumni.

SONGS & CHANUKAH SPIRIT
On Wednesday this week several of our
younger classes went to Beverwyck Senior
Living (arranged by Morah Clara Simon of
Bethlehem Chabad) to sing songs, dance, and
bring festival joy & cheer before Chanukah.
Clockwise from top: In addition to the lively
singing led by our music teacher Lynn Gross,
the kids each spent a little time chatting with
one of the seniors; Shmuly G. explains how a
Dreidel works; and the “singing flames” sing a
variety of Chanukah songs!

CONDOLENCES TO FAMILIES &
COMMUNITY OF SHEN. H.S.
A tragic accident on the Northway claimed the
lives of 2 high school seniors Chris Stewart
and Deanna Rivers and wounded two others.
Mrs. Gray (our middle & HS English teacher)
also teaches mornings at Shenendehowa HS
and knew some of these students. She spent
extra time helping students there cope with the
tragedy. Our HS students watched the vigil
online. Rabbi Yossi & Leyee were on their way
home on the Northway that Sat night after the
Yud-Tes Kislev Farbrengen when they passed
by the scene of the tragic accident and saw the
emergency teams using “Jaws of Life” to try to
save the teens in the car. We wish the families
and friends solace and comfort, and a speedy
and complete recovery to those injured.

LIEBERMAN CONDOLENCES
Our condolences to MHDS alumni Shmuly
and Michelle (Chandler) Lieberman on the
passing of his father, Sol Lieberman. See the
newsletter dedication box on right for more
about his life. May his memory be a blessing.

SNOW & CHANGING SEASON
Mrs. Carroll’s 3rd graders made this new fun
bulletin board with giant hanging 3-D white
snowflakes (even more than what’s pictured).
This week (at Maariv on Dec 4th) we switched
from the summer-mode to the V’sayn Tal
UMatar L’vracha winter-mode in the Bareich
Aleinu blessing in the weekday Amidah.

MAIMONIDES
404 Partridge Street
Albany NY 12208

Mr. Sol Lieberman came from
Czechoslovakia on the last ship to
America in 1940. He served in the
US Army during the Korean War
and entered law school on his return.
He practiced law until very recently,
championing Jewish causes during
his long practice. He is noted for his
quick wit and unique style, and his
sponsorship of small minyans
including near Ground Zero. He
leaves behind his wife, Paulette, a
true aishes-chayil, six sons, a
daughter, and many grandchildren.

By his “Mechutanim”
Phil and Linda Chandler

HARDENED HEARTS

NEW MONTHLY NANO COURSE

6th graders noticed a connection between
their current Chumash and Navi studies. They
are learning about G-d hardening Pharaoh’s
heart during the 10 plagues, at the same time
as they learned about Philistines stubbornly
holding onto the Holy Ark, even as they were
hit by plagues and suffering because of it.

Mr. Ted Levin came in this week to teach the
HS and Middle-School (separately) about the
research at Nanotech, and showed them some
examples of the relevance and uses of the
math they’ve been learning. Eli W. was
especially quick with his math skills and even
knew about a Yactometer. He also showed
them a short film, titled: “The Power of Ten”
that zooms out
and then back in
using the math
principle of exponents and negative exponents
and gives perspective on how super small
Nanotech is zooming down to create or change
things on that level. This is a new and cool
monthly enrichment program, about which
students (& adults!) are quite curious about…

MATCHING OPPORTUNITY
FOR NEW DAY-SCHOOL DONORS ALICE IN IMMIGRATION-LAND?
PEJE (Partnership for Excellence in Jewish
Education) and the Jewish Funders Network is
offering a one-time match for school donors
contributing $10K who
have not previously given
more than $2,000 to a
Jewish day school. This
matching program runs
through January 15, 2013 or until funds are
maxed out. This Chanukah, as we strike the
match to light the Menorah, please consider
this match opportunity, or reach out to
someone who may have the means and desire
to invest in the Jewish future, today!
Chanukah literally means dedication, and it
shares the same root as Chinuch (children’s
education). Maimonides is that miraculous
little cruise of oil that could! Please contact
Rabbi Rubin 423-4103 with any questions/
interest regarding this special opportunity.

7/8 with Mrs. Ramsay took a fun look at the
Alice in Wonderland story as a springboard
for a discussion on immigration “down the
rabbit hole” into a new world. They also
discussed push/pull factors:
“Push” is what forced or pushed
immigrants to leave their native
lands (for example: Early 20th
century Russian anti-Semitic pogroms were a
big incentive for Jews to leave that country)
and “Pull” is what makes them want to come
to the new country.

MIDWAY
ENTERTAINERS
At the Raffle-Auction
look for our 7/8
students in red shirts, they’re volunteering
their amateur talents to do balloon-twisting,
magic-tricks, juggling and more! Thanks!

“ESTY LIBRARY” DEDICATED AT
TUESDAY’S RAFFLE-AUCTION
Mrs. Leah Hecht has been working to get new
Jewish English children’s books for a school
library (as we have the nearby Bach Public
Library for general books). Thanks to those
who donated books in honor of Simchas etc
there’s already a good head-start, plus we have
some older quality books in school already.
There will be a small dedication ceremony at
the Raffle-Auction event on Tuesday.

MHDS RAFFLE-AUCTION
PRIZE PACKAGE UDPATES:


iPAD RETINA (4TH GENERATION)
The Raffle-Auction booklet mistakenly listed
the iPad prize as 3rd generation, but it is the
4th (and newest) iPad generation that is being
offered, with the new and speedier A6
processor, and the ultra-crisp beautiful
“Retina” display with millions of pixels!



CHANUKAH PARTY PACKAGE
The $125 in gift-certificates at “The Party
Warehouse” will be honored even as the store
goes out of business, but they will have to be
used as soon as possible after the RaffleAuction, as the store quickly sells out.



TWO MYSTERY DRAWINGS
There will be 2 drawings for the Mystery
Package, for the two different prizes in that
surprise package.



ONLINE SPECIALS
If you purchase tickets via the online site:
www.maimonidesschool.org/auction there are
a few specials, including: 3 Split the Pot
entries for $25 (or $10 each), an out-of-town
package with prizes that can be easily shipped
and one or two other special deals. Tickets
can be bought online until 4pm on the day of
the Raffle-Auction event.

RAFFLE-AUCTION EVENT WILL BE THIS TUESDAY!
It’s too late now to send entries by mail, but you can call the school office during school hours to
phone in your tickets, or go online and buy your tickets at www.maimonidesschool.org/auction up
until 4pm on Tuesday… or come in and buy your tickets at the event itself!
At this year’s Raffle-Auction event look for:
 Our student Midway Entertainers roving about, in their red shirts and fun activities!
 Another great Chanukah dinner by the Kochmans downstairs - corn-dogs, blooming onions…
 Dedication of the new start to “The Esty Library” with growing selection of quality kids books…
 Browse and view the 27 Prize Packages, and tickets available for purchase upstairs.
 Lighting of the Midway Menorah and the drawings and announcement of winners!
 Great Chanukah vibe and community spirit! Everyone is a winner for supporting Education!

CHAFETZ CHAIM IN HISTORY

WELCOME BACK ESTY KADOSH CORRUPTION IS AN OLD STORY

Rabbi Rubin’s 7/8 Jewish history class spent a
long time in the 16th century with Rabbi
Yosef Karo and R’ Moshe Isserles and how
Halacha and the Shulchan Aruch developed.
In keeping with the Shulchan
Aruch theme, they jumped
ahead a century and half to the
Shulchan Aruch HaRav (by the
Alter Rebbe) and then another
century and a half to R’ Yisrael
Meir Kagan, known as the
Chafetz Chaim who wrote “Chafetz Chaim”
about Lashon-Hora, and “Mishna Berurah” as
a further development of the Shulchan Aruch,
begun by Karo and Isserles (and even before
them by the Rambam, Alfas and Rosh, and
the Tur…) They learned that the Chafetz
Chaim wrote more 20 books, he passed away
in 1933 and his writings are widely studied
and followed around the world today.

Esty studied here for HS, and is now back in
town for a Chanukah visit. Good to see you!

HYDRAULIC
PROJECTS
Mrs. Sahay’s 7/8
grade designed their
own working devices
that operate on
hydraulics. Pictured
here is a Hydraulic
Cannon in a Boxing
Ring by Chaim and
Amiel, and below it
is the Flaming Rocket
by Esti & Chana
Rivka, and Eli K’s
“Marble Track” an
orange circular tube
that a marble raced
around thanks to
hydraulics. Other
projects were a
working cardboard
dump-truck, garage-door that opens & closes…

HS just learned the story of Geichazi, servant
of Elisha who fabricated a story to get gifts for
himself from an Arami general.

JEOPARDY AS A REVIEW GAME
7/8 played it in Chumash class with Rabbi
Laber, and High School played it with Mrs.
Ramsay in their history class as a review before
their respective tests.

ANOTHER NAVI CONNECTION
7/8 fast-Gemorah class learned about the how
Sancheirev (thankfully) missed out on an
opportune time to attack Jerusalem, that dates
back and connects with the tragic story of King
Saul’s terrible punishment of Nohv, the city of NINE BOOKS IN ONE-STAR
Kohanim, that they happened to learn the very Mrs. Maher divided six-pointed Jewish stars
into nine sections. Each time her 5th grade
same week in Shmuel Aleph Navi class!
students read a book on their own, they get to
APPS PROJECTS DUE MON 12/10 color in one-section color-coded to the genre
(mystery, folktale, poetry, biography, realistic
For grades 6-8. Remember the guidelines:
fiction etc..) the goal is to fill up the reading18”x24” (or similar size) portrait orientation,
star with a variety of reading-genres!
anything Midway related (food, activities,
amusements, characters etc), along with
ASK HERE PA WEB RESOURCE
inspirational life message or Jewish
6th graders enjoyed discovering this website
connection, bold big words, no small text,
from PA where librarians respond to student
color is great, 3-D is OK but must be light
questions in live-chat.
enough to hang. They will be on display for
the Midway Chanukah Raffle-Auction Event.

NO CHOLENT ON THE TABLE?

THANKS TO YESHIVA BOYS
Motti R. and his friend Eli Nochum of Texas
came up from Yeshiva in Brooklyn this past
weekend up here to study and farbreng with
our older boys, and led a special Yud-Tes
Kislev kids program on Saturday Night.

ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS
In connection with Yud-Tes Kislev Rabbi
Laber showed several classes copies of the
original documents (dating back to 1789 in
Czarist times) regarding the Alter Rebbe’s
arrest, including the Alter Rebbe’s
handwritten responses to the accusations.

EXCITING COMMUNAL CHANUKAH EVENTS…
Here are a few flyers of this week’s Chanukah communal events… see additional events and
more details on page 4!

Why isn’t Cholent on the Periodic Table? The
simple answer is that it’s not an element, so
while it belongs on a Shabbos table, it does
not fit on the Periodic Table of Elements.
Cholent, being a big combination of lots of
ingredients & spices is the exact opposite of an
element. How do you define an element? 6th
graders worked on putting this answer into
just a few words: succinct, crisp and accurate.

LAWS OF CHANUKAH & MORE
Our students learned many things about
Chanukah, hopefully we’ll report on that in
next week’s MC newsletter!

at Maimonides and in the Community
12/8: OH, DREIDEL I SHALL PLAY?

12/9: BETH ISRAEL IN SCHEN.

12/14: CHANUKAH WEEKEND

is the theme of Rabbi Lehrfield’s special talk at
CBAJ, 10:45am followed by a hot Kiddush.

12/8: SHABBOS HOUSE SCHEDULE
As Chanukah falls this year leading up to & during
finals, Shabbos House is hosting a series of events
including Latke Making & Bingo for Sandy Relief,
Sunday Minyan Bagel Brunch, on-campus
Hurricane Coin Menorah on Monday, Midnight
Breakfast on Tues, and Friday Night Chanukah...
Events are for students, info/questions? 438-4227.
Many events on Sunday, but times are staggered, see if you
can make it from one event to another, even if a little late…

12/9: CHANUKAH KIDS PROGRAM

BMC/JGR’s Teen Leadership Club for girls in
grades 8-12 (co-sponsored by the Maimonides Bnos
Chaya HS) will do a Chanukah program at the
Massry Residence, 3pm. Call 727-9581 for info.

12/22: PIZZA NITE II
First pizza-night was a great success, lots of feedback
on the improved, speedy service, and new offerings!
Look for updates closer to the 2nd Pizza night…

12-1pm at Maimonides, open to all Jewish boys and
12/24-27: HALF-DAY AM ONLY
girls, with storytelling, Chanukah Bingo game,
12/11: MHDS CHANUKAH 4TH NITE Monday through Thursday, AM Judaic classes only
lively energy, raffles & prizes including a bicycle.
at Maimonides. Stay tuned for some special
“MIDWAY” AUCTION & DINNER
Get into Chanukah spirit on the 1st day! RSVPs are
5-7pm at Maimonides, with special dinner, viewing activities on these days. Send snack but no lunch.
helpful: kids@capitalchabad.com Info: 522-8478.
and 27 prize package drawings. See page 2 for more.

No school for an extended New Years weekend,
from Friday 12/28 through Tuesday, January 1st.
School resumes at 8am on Wednesday January 2nd.

12/26-30: JGR WINTER RETREAT

Jewish girls ages 8-15 at Dunham’s Bay Resort in
Lake George, Dec 26th to Dec 30th. This year’s
theme: “Hidden Treasures Within” with creative
12/13: SCHOOL PLAYS & SONGS
writing, art, crafts, drama, choir & dance. Schedule
The
annual
Chanukah
plays
and
performances
will
12/9: DREIDELS DONUTS & DUPLO
includes tubing, bonfire, swimming, performing
be 10:30am on Thurs morning, parents & friends
4pm Duplo (large-size) Lego Menorah construction,
arts, yoga, crafts, talent show and DJ nite. Girls are
are welcome. School ends at 3:30pm. In addition
and 5pm event with Menorah Lighting, Dreidels
expected from far and near. A project of YALDAH
our students will be performing at senior centers
and Donuts, live music, arts & crafts and joyous
and will be assisting with a variety of area programs. Media, Inc. and Chabad of S. Rensselaer County.
Chanukah activities at the Clifton Park Center
Info? JewishGirlsRetreat.net or call: 727-9581.
(Mall) near the Hilton Garden Inn entrance. Call
Rabbi Yossi or Leyee at 495-0772/9 for more info. 12/13: CONGRESS PARK MENORAH 1/13/13: SPA FOR BODY & SOUL
5:30pm, with music and hot-latkes outside in the
Bring new Duplo Lego to be used in the 4pm
Save the date for this annual womens communal
park in the heart of Saratoga Springs. Call Rabbi
construction of the Lego Menorah and later
event, with an inspiring speaker, delicious luncheon
Abba
526-0773
for
more
info.
donated to Albany Med’s Children Hospital and
and hands-on workshops, held once again in
other organizations.
Clifton Park. Call Leah 495-0772 or Clara 4398280 for more information or to volunteer.
MAIMONIDES SCHOOL (Nursery / Elementary / High School) & COMMUNITY
404 Partridge Street Albany NY 12208 (518) 453-9363/3434
1/27: FED’S “SUPER-SUNDAY”
maimonidesschool@gmail.com
Annual fundraising phone-a-thon date, volunteers
Founded in 1980, Maimonides is chartered by the NYS Board of Regents and
needed - this helps fund our school’s allocation.
is a JF-NENY Beneficiary “A Beautiful Blend: Torah & Worldly Experience!”